I turned 33 years old at 10,000 feet above sea level. Every birthday brings me to introspection and somewhat denial of the fact that I am aging. The truth is that I'm not getting any younger and in the past year from 32 to 33, more and more gray hairs seem to think that they are allowed to reside on my head. As far as I know I haven't given them permission to exist among my other dark brown hair. But life is life and I am grateful for another year of life. I have decided that, as I age, life on this earth is not what it used to be. Every year I gain insights about my existence that I didn't have before, every year I see the world in different, more profound ways. With all of that, comes the realization of my many imperfections and I'm glad in a way that I get to experience this mortal life, year after year after year...I am experiencing new stages in my children's lives and as they go through them, I am also going through them myself. As Scott gets closer to being done with this 'transitional' kind of life that we have had since we've been married, I realize that this whole metaphor people use with seasons and life makes so much sense. I see the saying "seasons of life" in a much more profound way. As fall is ending, my favorite season of all, I feel this desperate need to hold on to it. I don't want fall to end, I love it so much. As my eyes have been opened to this metaphor in a meaningful way, I realize how carelessly I sometimes live my life, not really trying to enjoy and love this season I am in.
The other night, I felt exhausted. I said out loud what I was thinking; "I wish I were a robot!!! I wish I could just be a robot! Why can't I function like a robot?" Scott looked at me puzzled and Braden, who is scared of robots, said; "I don't want you to be a robot mom, that's scary!" I said, but robots don't get tired. They just go and go and go. So much of life is so menial. I have a hard time finding joy in meeting our mortal every need. Why can't we spend our time doing other things, other things that don't involve fixing food to eat, washing clothes to wear, cleaning messes we make, cleaning, cleaning, cleaning....did I mention cleaning? It is all so mundane. It is hard to find a balance between the mundane and the things that matter most. And for that reason, I am glad and grateful that I get another year of life on this earth. I want more and more and more years of life, so I can get it right.
Aging after all, doesn't seem so bad when I look at it that way.
My good friend Heidi, invited Stephanie and I along with our kids to go to Brian Head. The kids were on fall break and our husbands are busy residents, so we figured what a better way to spend this time than to head up to the mountains.
It was so beautiful up there.
Heidi's family owns a cabin and it was big enough for all of us.
They even had fun toys like ATV's. We got to ride them up to a beautiful spot with an incredible view. 
These two girls get along so well and they had endless hours to play together.
The view was amazing!
When we got back Steph had everything ready for the kids to make sugar cookies.
It was a fun mess!
...and as we know, kids love messes.
They are all two!
Blake and I have the same birthday!
All the kids had so much fun.
It was a super laid back trip, definitely my kind of fun.
Steph, Heidi and I enjoyed conversing after putting kids to bed, until way past our bedtimes!!!
Since Brian Head is at an altitude of 10,000 feet, there was some snow on the ground.
This is my favorite picture of our trip!
On the 18th, Heidi made my favorite carrot cake and made my favorite dinner.
What did I ever do to deserve to have such thoughtful, wonderful friends?
They sure know how to make a girl feel special.
...and just like that I was officially 33.
I think this was the first birthday away from Scott since we have been married.
I missed him but I was grateful to be in such good company.
These ladies are wonderful examples to me, amazing mothers and women of faith and virtue.
I know it is no coincidence I have them in my life.
Steph and Heidi brought the cutest little crafts for the kids to make.
...and we of course had to get a picture of us wearing these cute little masks!:)
What a fun little vacation!
3 comments:
Denisse, are you photoshopping your pictures because you sure don't look older to me! I related so much to this post you wrote about the mundane reality that is motherhood and keeping a home. I wish I could say it gets better as the kids gets older, but really they just want more food and more attention and there's new things to worry about. I wanted to share with you part of an article that really changed my perspective on homemaking and motherhood. Perhaps it will help you too. Love you!
Almost two thousand years ago, in a tender and telling New Testament story, the Savior taught us of the magical nature of home as he created for His disciples an impromptu refuge on an obscure shore. This very familiar story takes place at that critical period when the disciples experienced not only the unprecedented agony of Gethsemane and the betrayal and crucifixion but the unspeakable joy of embracing the resurrected Lord.
What happens now? seems to have been the pervasive atmosphere of their world. A little lost, they returned to the pursuits and prospects they had left, without a backward glance, three years before. “Peter saith unto them, I go fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing” (John 21:3).
Imagine the weariness and discouragement of men whose arms have cast and recast nets, only to draw them back empty again and again. Famished and exhausted, they headed back towards shore. “But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, . . .and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship, . . .dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. . . Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. . . Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.” (John 21:4-9, 12-13)
While the disciples were struggling and striving, wavering between hope and despair, the Savior of the world was creating a little, temporary home for them – a place where they could be refreshed and renewed, and later instructed. It was a home first and foremost because he was there. It was a home, too, because like a loving wife or mother, he was considering their needs and pleasures, their comforts and joys- and meting his services to their heartaches and yearnings.
The meal the Savior prepared for His disciples was a simple one. Have you ever wondered at that? This was, after all, the resurrected Lord. He could have produced any food from any corner of the planet and from any period of time. It could have been pate, peach cobbler or pressed duck. Instead, the risen Christ – with hands bearing our wounds – prepared a sweet, simple, familiar meal for his weary followers. And it is upon the simplicity of that meal that I would like to focus particularly. For the Lord was celebrating something we seem to avoid in our culture; he was celebrating the mundane, the repetitive, the ritual. (Nancy Young, "Who Sweeps a Room," BYU Women's Conference 2000)
I'm glad that you had such a great birthday! Your friends are taking good care of you.. :) And I agree with Crystal...you don't look any older! You look amazing!
Loved this post--a good reminder about seasons of life. And a good reminder of a fun weekend!
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